How many cents can intonation be off?
Table of Contents
How many cents can intonation be off?
One author stated that humans can distinguish a difference in pitch of about 5–6 cents.
How accurate should guitar intonation be?
A properly intonated instrument will be very close, but never perfect. That’s ok. It is part of the instrument. While there are some attempts to correct this issue (true temperament frets), the guitar has been around a long time and all of our heros had the same shortcomings.
How high should the action be at the 12th fret?
Measuring at the 12th fret (as in the photo), the action height should be 2.6 mm for Steel String Acoustic guitar, 1.8 for electric, 2.0mm for bass and 3mm for a Classical.
What is acceptable intonation?
If you can hit every fret and stay within 2 to 3 cents you should be fine . Remember even things as simple as how hard you fret a chord can influence the intonation . If you are having issues on the 12th fret , I would ask a few questions first , what is the action height and relief of the neck .
How do you measure action at 12th fret?
Measuring
- Hold the guitar in the playing position.
- Hold the ruler flat on the top of the 12th fret between the E (6th) and A (5th) strings.
- Measure the space between the top of the fret and the bottom of the string.
What is considered low action?
Steel string acoustic guitars tend to require slightly higher action than electric guitars, so you’ll see higher measurements here….String Height at the 1st Fret.
| Low Action | “Normal” Action |
|---|---|
| Low E: 0.51mm (0.020”) High E: 0.30mm (0.012”) | Low E: 0.76mm (0.030”) High E: 0.41mm (0.016”) |
How important is intonation guitar?
Intonation is important to get right on your guitar to make sure you will always be in tune, regardless of where you play on your fretboard. A great guitar will sound horrible if the intonation isn’t properly set up.
How is guitar intonation measured?
Two things determine proper intonation – the scale length of your guitar and string gauge. If you’re unsure of your scale length, you can determine it by measuring the distance between the nut and the middle of the twelfth fret. Multiply this number by two to find your scale length.